[Haruchunja] 'The Last Lesson of Lee O-ryeong'

Editor's NoteAsia Economy provides daily 1,000-character transcription content for the 'One Day, One Thousand Characters' newsletter readers. The transcription content is carefully selected according to daily and monthly themes from Eastern and Western classics, Korean literature, notable columns, and famous speeches. 'The Last Lesson of Lee O-ryeong' is a book containing the final stories from the late former Minister of Culture Lee O-ryeong to readers. In this book, the teacher introduces his newly befriended companion called 'death' and traverses various topics such as love, forgiveness, religion, and science, delivering wise answers about life to the remaining generations. Writer Kim Ji-su compiled an interview with the teacher about a year before his passing and recently republished it as a special edition. Below is a memorable excerpt from this book recommended by Han Ji-su, an MD (in charge of poetry and essays) at Kyobo Bookstore. Character count: 1019.

He smiled brightly, saying that writing is about overcoming the emptiness and failures of previous writings and starting anew each time. At that moment, I saw my teacher as a child sitting on the sandy beach, watching the setting sun while building a sandcastle. A child who believes this game will never end because failure is always possible. Not overwhelmed by despair but wrapped in light excitement.

"Jonathan Livingston Seagull didn't fly for food but for the ultimate flight. Teacher, could it be that you assume you are failing just to keep writing?"

"I don't know. I was a person who needed challenges all my life. I kept writing, writing again, and rewriting. Not because I was strong but because I was weak. Nietzsche was no different. 'Come, fate.' Even great people who seem grand are not so. When they fall, they just cry out once more. When you have nothing to say yourself, you copy others' words. That is a scholar. A person who writes characters, not a writer. People confuse those who write characters with those who write. Those who write characters are 'Seogyeong' (書耕), copyists. As you can see, I am in much pain now. The time I can speak is getting shorter. So from now on, I think I will try to tell my story to those who remain, as if coughing up blood."

"Please say whatever you wish."

"I don't know if it will be hope or a gift, but that's all I can do now."

"For the remaining generations."

Like a wounded boxer rising, words were rising to prepare to run again across the meadow.

"I am not a moral or altruistic person. Rather, I am an egoist. Without being an egoist, you cannot write. All writers write because they want to tell their own story. They are passionate about their own thoughts. Maybe similar to a dictator. The reason for stubbornly maintaining ego is because only then can it become the writing of all people. Living as an egoist for others."

"Exactly. Only writing that passes through the 'self' can move the hearts of all. In our last interview, you said, 'Everything was a gift I received.' Shall we start from that?"

- The Last Lesson of Lee O-ryeong, written by Kim Ji-su, Yeollimwon, 16,500 KRW